Lua Preta (@luapreta) is an Angolan/Polish duo that has taken the global bass scene by storm in the past few years. Since the end of 2017 they managed to put out a series of successful releases, play a great deal of well-received shows at festivals and clubs all over Europe (plus two gigs in New York), shoot a bunch of music videos (one of them being filmed in Lisbon) and catch attention of @brankoofficial himself who remixed their song for his renowned 'Enchufada Na Zona' compilation. In 2020 they went on to prepare a debut album called 'Diaspora' - a seven tracks collection showcasing their characteristic catchy Afro sound which included 'Baile Lotus' (played by Diplo in his BBC Radio 1 show), 'Vim Para Vencer' (collaboration with South African rapper Robin Thirdfloor) and 'Drena' (featured in an official Spotify playlist by Adidas).

Now five of the songs from the last year's release come back with new versions prepared by producers from five different countries. United States' @tonyquattro highlights Ms. Gia's vocals from 'Drena' and freshens up the beat by adding guitar riffs and swirling flutes. @djraff, one of the most important electronic music artists from Chile, skilfully slows down 'Baile Lotus' and in an unexpected turn of events pairs it with cumbia turning the track into a Latin-flavoured beauty. Further into the release, Africa's star producer @gafacci adds his signature style to the instrumental side of 'Ao Som Dos Homens' - but don't worry: Ghanaian's famous 'shut your mouth I beg eh' vocal hook is very much there.

'Diaspora Remixes' finishes off with two remixes by European artists. Firstly, original vocals take the centre stage again in the club-ready rework of 'Sente Batida' by respected Italian producer @lamentomusic. Last but not least, French drum master @ruffkaval provides a perfect closing track with his wonderfully crafted version of 'RTE' which has been enriched by additional thumping patterns and... birdsongs.

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Artwork: Ala Lesiala
Mastering: Mentalcut

Lua Preta - Ao Som Dos Homens (Gafacci Remix)

Calm and airy synths, dreamy vocals, West African elements - and all of that embedded in the electronic music. In the past two years such mixture has become an intriguingly characteristic sound for Mansa (@mansa-music), a rising producer of Gambian descent who was born in Sweden but now resides in Brussels, and his brand new single 'Sonte Saramala' presents the signature style in its full glory once again revolving around the rhythm played on djembe drums.

Cherry on top comes in a form of a lively remix produced by SHE Spells Doom (@shespellsdoom). The sought-after Zambian artist has been living through quite a breakthrough moment of his career in the recent months with his track making it to the compilation released by the legendary Berlin club Tresor as well as being invited to the Crack Magazine mix series and being selected among the ones to watch in 2022 by Mixmag.

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Artwork: Ala Lesiala (www.instagram.com/lesiala/ www.instagram.com/precel.studio/ )
Mastering: Mentalcut (www.instagram.com/mentalcut/)

Mansa - Sonte Saramala (SHE Spells Doom Remix)

Obeka - Move Like So Remixes (out on the 31st of March via Basy Tropikalne)

'Move Like So Remixes' not only reimagines 2021's EP full of Afro-Caribbean explorations courtesy of Bermuda-born producer Obeka (@djobeka) but also perfectly showcases different approaches to the art of remixing.

Take 'Test System' - a dancehall-infused track that has proven to be the most popular song from the original release with radio plays in Kampire's BBC Radio 1 residency among others - which comes back in a form of three impressively distinct versions. Influential Peruvian duo Dengue Dengue Dengue (@dengue) revisit their DNGDNGDNG alias and brilliantly come up with a rework in which jungle breaks smoothly intertwine with reggaeton. Further into the EP you can hear the voice of Swordman Kitala, a talented Ugandan MC with numerous appearances on Nyege Nyege's sister label Hakuna Kulala, who flawlessly delivers his verses in Luganda alongside original beat produced by Obeka. Last but not least, a true gem has been cooked up by DJ Danifox (@djdanifox). Strongly departing from the original, he brings his characteristic sound that ideally sets the tone for closing the release with an almost jazzy feel and a somewhat nostalgic manner (saudade, one may say).

Two remaining instrumental songs from 'Move Like So' also get new versions - and both will be perfect for your DJ sets. Title track receives a speeding up treatment from Ultima Esuna, Mexican artist already gathering much deserved attention for her dancehall-leaning compositions that earned her a place on the 2022 Nervous Horizon compilation. And then there's Bandicut, one of the key figures in the Lisbon's global bass scene, who went all out and delivered a true banger making use of the West African drums from the original song.

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Artwork: Ala Lesiala (www.instagram.com/lesiala/ www.instagram.com/precel.studio/ )
Mastering: Mentalcut (www.instagram.com/mentalcut/)
Special thanks to Pablo Pascual aka Pambulo

Obeka - Test System (DNGDNGDNG Remix)

'Move Like So Remixes' not only reimagines 2021's EP full of Afro-Caribbean explorations courtesy of Bermuda-born producer Obeka (@djobeka) but also perfectly showcases different approaches to the art of remixing.

Take 'Test System' - a dancehall-infused track that has proven to be the most popular song from the original release with radio plays in Kampire's BBC Radio 1 residency among others - which comes back in a form of three impressively distinct versions. Influential Peruvian duo Dengue Dengue Dengue (@dengue) revisit their DNGDNGDNG alias and brilliantly come up with a rework in which jungle breaks smoothly intertwine with reggaeton. Further into the EP you can hear the voice of Swordman Kitala, a talented Ugandan MC with numerous appearances on Nyege Nyege's sister label Hakuna Kulala, who flawlessly delivers his verses in Luganda alongside original beat produced by Obeka. Last but not least, a true gem has been cooked up by DJ Danifox (@djdanifox). Strongly departing from the original, he brings his characteristic sound that ideally sets the tone for closing the release with an almost jazzy feel and a somewhat nostalgic manner (saudade, one may say).

Two remaining instrumental songs from 'Move Like So' also get new versions - and both will be perfect for your DJ sets. Title track receives a speeding up treatment from Ultima Esuna (@ultimaesuna), Mexican artist already gathering much deserved attention for her dancehall-leaning compositions that earned her a place on the 2022 Nervous Horizon compilation. And then there's Bandicut (@bandicut), one of the key figures in the Lisbon's global bass scene, who went all out and delivered a true banger making use of the West African drums from the original song.

---

Artwork: Ala Lesiala (www.instagram.com/lesiala/ www.instagram.com/precel.studio/ )
Mastering: Mentalcut (www.instagram.com/mentalcut/)
Special thanks to Pablo Pascual aka Pambulo

Obeka - Test System Riddim (DJ Danifox Remix)

Obeka - Duppy Drum (Bandicut Remix)

@jacazzz - Dentro Do Carro (taken from '1PLACE4BEATS - BRAZIL' EP, out on the 28th of April via @radiochiguiro)

French Label Radio Chigurio launches a new release series called '1PLACE4BEATS' with an EP focusing on Brazil. One of the artists involved is Volta Redonda-based Carioca producer Jaca Beats whose prolific career has already delivered a quantity of top quality baile funk-infused beats throughout the past few years. Now he adds a brand new track to this list: a perfect uplifting summer tune entitled 'Dentro do Carro' that only proves his place among the rising stars of the Brazilian club scene is well deserved.

[PREMIERE] Jaca Beats - Dentro do Carro (Radio Chiguiro)

@someguest & @ifspytatofi - Perfect Trust (taken from 'Perfect Trust/Company', out on the 28th of April via @caballito-netlabel)

Some Guest and iffi are Polish producers, selectors and members of the Warsaw-based collective and label Narocz13 (@narocz13).  Both of them try to popularize the global sound on the local club scene and draw inspiration from it in their own work as perfectly showcased by their latest output. 'Perfect Trust' -  a part of the double single due to be released by the pioneering Spanish label Caballito - instantly lures in with infectious baile funk vocal samples but beneath the surface there's also a high-energy dembow rhythm and melancholic trance-y synth layers that together create a flawless club-ready tune.

[PREMIERE] Some Guest & iffi - Perfect Trust (Caballito Netlabel)

@lukr0 - Wax Riddim (@sncn-txt Remix)(taken from 'Riddims Rmxs', out on the 5th of May via @caballito-netlabel)

'Riddims' was a last year's EP by Peruvian producer Lukrø who gave dembow a unique dreamy and dub vibe on that release. Now the tracks come back in a form of remixes created by what seems like a dream line-up of artists - including POBVIO, PVSSY, Kid Cala, CRKS290 and fellow Peruvians: Tribilin Sound and Shushupe. Among them is Colombian LatinTek star CRRDR who took the minimalistic opening song 'Wax Riddim' and turned it into a proper dancefloor-ready tune.

[PREMIERE] Lukrø - Wax Riddim (CRRDR Remix) (Caballito Netlabel)

@jatubeats – Bateria Electronica (taken from ‘King Cobra’, out on the 6th of September via @traaampaaa)

Colombian label Traaampaaa heads to the coast for their next release as Barranquilla's talented artist JATU delivers a four track EP filled with DJ tools based on surprising samples - take 'Rey Cobra' with its birdsongs or an aptly called track 'Castillos Oscuros' which revisits Crystal Castles' 2008's hit 'Untrust Us'. The producer's fondness for 8bit music comes back in 'Bateria Electronica' as well where the chiptune bleeps meet not only Brazilian vocal snippet but also an old school baile funk drum machine rhythm.

[PREMIERE] JATU - Bateria Electronica (Traaampaaa)

@brendainternational - Pagate (taken from 'MATENA STELO', out on the 27th of October via @cuntryclub)

If you're looking for another top quality compilation this Autumn, Cuntry Club got you covered with this upcoming album filled with over 20 (!) tracks. The Paris-based multi-disciplinary platform prepared a massive release titled 'MATENA STELO' that will feature some of the most exciting names around - including Parzubanil, Ene Ese, Benfika, Cimarrón, Candie x Tufi collab and, last but not least, one of the most influential figures of the scene: Chilean producer Imaabs who was shaping the scene of the Latin American club music over a decade ago. Among them is Brenda, Colombian producer whose debut album released earlier this month proved that he's fluent with full spectrum of tempos and a killer dancehall track 'Pegate' showcases his slowlier side.

[PREMIERE] Brenda - Pegate (Cuntry Club)

@sncn-txt - Menea La Colita (taken from 'RIP LATINCORE 2K24', out on the 12th of December)

Few producers have left a greater mark in the past few years when it comes to Latin American club music than CRRDR. The extremely prolific Columbian producer has had an intensive year with countless releases under his belt (including a full-length debut, DJ Fucci collab out on NAAFI and numerous other joint efforts and compilation appearances), a mix for Boiler Room's Hard Dance series and a packed European tour that took him everywhere from Glasgow and Lisbon in the west to Warsaw and Prague in the east. Now, going through a turbulent period after one of his tracks was featured in a Netflix show, he decided to treat us with one final gem this year - another album filled with frenetic LatinCore madness revolving around sampling and edits.

[PREMIERE] CRRDR - Menea La Colita

@sncn-txt - Sobate (@neuverboten Remix) (taken from 'Instinto Primal', out on the 1st of December via @jupiter4records)

Another testament to CRRDR's remarkably productive year comes in a form of 'Instinto Primal', an EP dropping at the end of this week via tastemaking Jupiter4 label. The Colombian LatinCore star adds another collection of intensive, highly danceable tracks to his name, a release that is this time enriched by three distinctive remixes courtesy of Brazil's Kontronatura, Ecuador's PVSSY and Mexican-Swiss multidisciplinary artist Nuevo Prohibido, known not only for his producing and DJ skills but also for curating @lustpoderosa label and Berlin event series Metarave.

[PREMIERE] CRRDR - Sobate (Nuevo Prohibido Remix) (Jupiter4)

@plvybxy - TRN01 (taken from 'TRINCHERA' EP, out on the 10th of March via @agvarecords)

Buenos Aires' influential AGVA Records starts its 2024 release schedule with none other than EL PLVYBXY, label's boss who comes back home after almost two years since his changa tuki-inspired 'EXTRACORPOREA'. The new EP - aptly titled 'TRINCHERA' which means trench in Spanish - carries a somewhat sinister and unnerving mood in an attempt to reference the armed conflicts happening right now around the world. Channeling the feelings of rage, torment and helplessness with the use of distorted sounds, airy synths and chopped up samples, the release might as well serve as a dystopian soundtrack to the current sociopolitical landscape of our planet.

[PREMIERE] EL PLVYBXY - TRN01 (AGVA)

@sapphir22 - Pulquedrums (taken from 'URBEX: PRELUDIO', out on the 15th of May via @posssole)

Throughout past twelve months Argentinian producer SAPPHIR22 has been quietly delivering a great amount of high-quality fast-paced tracks spread across compilations curated by Ofensa, Cuntry Club, Santa Sede and Jupiter4. Add fire collabs with Aleroj and his AGVA buddy EL PLVYBXY to the list and you'll get a picture of how in demand his productions are. His newest song - a thumping, highly percussive 'Pulquedrums' - will be included in a debut compilation in the catalogue of Mexican crew po$$$ole which gathers the likes of Brenda, Maria Manuela, Ruido con H, Kid Robin, El Pseudo and more.

[PREMIERE] SAPPHIR22 - Pulquedrums (po$$$ole)

@dnza x @undrwght - Anfibio (taken from 'Anifbio' EP, out on the 30th of May)

A collaboration between DNZA and Undrwght, two Mexican producers, dates back years with their joint releases always characterized by heavy bass, extensive use of baile funk samples and influences ranging from hard drum to UK's club music. Their upcoming EP, however, focuses on South Africa and the raw energy of gqom which will be presented in the highly danceable hybrid form drawing from all their previous inspirations that took their music to the catalogues of such labels as WVWV, POSTWORLD, Cuntry Club, Ofensa and more.

[PREMIERE] DNZA x Undrwght - Anfibio

@selvagia - Nesss (taken from 'SUDACORE ALL STARS', out on the 13th of June via @traaampaaa)

One of the highlights of the upcoming Traaampaaa compilation is delivered by Peruvian producer Selvagia who, having made it to the TraTraTrax catalogue and with an EP for Rebote Discoteca under his belt, continues a great year with 'Nesss', a lively baile funk-infused track. The upcoming massive collection of over 20 songs marks Colombian label's come back to releasing compilations after a run of successful solo EPs by the likes of LAZA, JATU and CALLWSO. Label's previous VA albums consisted of productions by Entrañas, Aleroj, DJ Juanny or Conejx and the upcoming one definitely lives up to the expectations as it one more time features top players from Latin America and beyond - including brand new songs by Remiseria Temperley, Rasenk, Nuevo Prohibido as well as Traaampaaa's boss CRRDR and many more.

[PREMIERE] Selvagia - Nesss (Trampa)

@thelazyjesus - Evfoniia (@jaijiu Remix) (taken from 'UA TRIBAL vol. 2', out on the 21st of June via @ssshouka)

Argentinian artist Jaijiu has been making waves for several years now with his mind-blowing approach to producing music, full of broken rhythm patterns, wide range of tempos and exceptional edits ideas. All that made him a perfect (and courageous) choice to jump on one of the tracks from the upcoming release by The Lazy Jesus who is about to publish second instalment of his 'UA TRIBAL' album which mixes the folklore of his native Ukraine (represented among other by traditional wooden wind instruments) with heavy electronic music influences.

[PREMIERE] The Lazy Jesus - Evfoniia (Jaijiu Remix) (Shouka)

@os76mx - MOVIL (taken from 'BAJO PLEASUR3', out on the 4th of September via @postworldmusic)

Having already released music by the likes of Cimarrón and Undrwght, POSTWORLD label is no stranger to showcasing Latin American talent to the world. Now adding Iztapalapa-based OS76 to the bill, they're about to drop his 'BAJO PLEASUR3' EP, a collection of murky and unsettling tracks filled with potent bass, sudden turns and mantra-like vocal snippets that all together create a somewhat aggressive ambience destined for a dystopian club experience.

[PREMIERE] OS76 - MOVIL (POSTWORLD)

@djobeka - Temple Drum (taken from 'Temple Drum' EP, out on the 24th of October via @loveintheendz)

Creating moody and captivating ambience with an intricately woven net of frenetic drums is what Obeka does best and the monumental title track from his EP 'Temple Drum' on LOVE IN THE ENDZ is not only yet another example of his great skills but also a testament to how his Afro-Caribbean identity and childhood spent in Bermuda are now artistically expressed within the realm of electronic music. All these influences create a perfect blend that takes centre stage on the upcoming release that is further enriched by remixes courtesy of Kontronatura, BBY FANGZZZ and DJ Doraemon.

[PREMIERE] Obeka - Temple Drum (LOVE IN THE ENDZ)

@rodesh - Mosquita Muerta (taken from 'LA LLAVE VOL. 2', out on the 11th of December via @aux1111)

Having already made a splash earlier this year with their extensive debut compilation, Barcelona-based label AUX1 is back to finish off 2024 in style with the next installment showcasing the work of even more artists - 'LA LLAVE VOL. 2' will feature 27 names from across Latin America and beyond continuing the mission of spreading experimental club sounds. Among them it is Buenos Aires' DJ, producer and painter Rodesh that shines bright with the track 'Mosquita Muerta' in which she elevated her motto 'perreo y ternura' to the next level effortlessly switching between the tempos that together with shattered vocal samples create a feverish, highly danceable atmosphere.

[PREMIERE] Rodesh - Mosquita Muerta (AUX1)

@stijn-schrijber & @djrtje - Legacy (taken from 'Bobblesaus', out on the 25th of April via @clubyeke)

What are the world's greatest accidental inventions? Penicillin, X-ray and... bubbling! The catchy genre - developed in the '90s after DJ Moortje mistakenly played a dancehall record at a faster tempo - has turned into a club music with an energy hard to resist, honed by the likes of Chuckie or De Schuurman. Now, London's Club Yeke puts spotlight on two names from the new wave of bubbling champions, Styn and DJ Rtje, who used old-school drum kits to create 'Bobblesaus', a collection of frenetic tracks adhering to genre's principles with added flavours ranging from Surinamese kawina music to jungle and grime.

[PREMIERE] styn & DJ Rtje - Legacy (Club Yeke)

@sapphir22 - ARTILLERIA (taken from 'CLUB LATTICE', out on the 17th of April)

'ARTILLERIA' is a pounding cut from the upcoming album by Argentinian producer and AGVA co-founder SAPPHIR22. The song blends several interesting and non-obvious elements such as drums from malambo, Argentina's folk dance, and snippets from an interview with Pablo Lescano, a pioneer of cumbia villera genre - all that additionally spiced with synthesizers and baile funk vocals. 

[PREMIERE] SAPPHIR22 - ARTILLERIA

@budalagi - TAND3M (taken from 'HAPA NI WAPI' EP, out on the 4th of June via @viefrecords)

Jersey club flavoured with baile funk and gqom? That's one hell of an international journey to be served within a single song but Kenyan producer Budalagi manages not only to do just that in one of the tracks from his upcoming EP 'HAPA NI WAPI' but also makes it sound as though these three genres should never be separated ever again. And if you think that's crazy enough, make sure to check out the full release once it comes out as it features also a mixture of genge, i.e. Kenyan hip-hop music, with... reggaeton. 

[PREMIERE] Budalagi - TAND3M (Vief Records)

@lao & @otherislands - De Alguna Manera (taken from 'Lo Que Queda, Vuelve', out on the 18th of June via @terminalrec)

The influence of British electronic music genres has been everpresent in the work of Lao - take jungle for example which left its traces throughout his whole discography, starting from 2012's track 'Mangle' all the way until the praised album 'Chapultepec' released last year. After all, it is also Aphex Twin tattoo that graces his forearm as a testament to the life-changing experience that was stumbling across the music of this visionary musician. Half-jokingly, maybe that's why Other Islands, a London-born producer, was such a great companion for Lao to create a collaborative EP 'Lo Que Queda, Vuelve', a three track release which adds baile funk, dembow, grime and ballroom to the pool that already includes the aforementioned jungle. On a more serious note though, Other Islands is definitely the one to watch as proved by his latest outputs - a remix for Lila Tirando a Violeta produced alongside Imaabs and a track for Precious Metals compilation.

[PREMIERE] LAO & Other Islands - De Alguna Manera (Terminal)

@ifspytatofi - sommer (taken from 'sommer' EP, out on the 12th of June via @00effort)

In the past few years iffi has been actively smuggling global influences in his DJ sets across Warsaw's best underground parties. Same applies to his music and an upcoming EP on the genre-bending 00efort label is a great showcase of his skills being a release where post-trance melodies, garage-infused beats or floating synths meet genres like kuduro, batida and gqom.  


[PREMIERE] iffi - sommer (00effort)

@lukr0 & @orieta-chrem - Tú y Yo (taken from 'Perú: Afuera' out on the 13th of June via @loveintheendz and @matraca-netlabel)

London's Love In The Endz and Lima's Matraca join forces to put a spotlight on Peruvian artists making waves in electronic music. The result is an extensive compilation gathering a mixture of already established musicians (with Dengue Dengue Dengue leading the bill presenting a collaborative track with Prisma) and upcoming producers - bringing a combination that showcases Peru's talents across different generations. Among those taking part are Lukrø and Orieta Chrem, two very familiar names to anyone who has been following the club music scene in Latin America in the past two decades, who deliver 'Tú y Yo', a reggaeton/footwork hybrid cooked up in Lima's Barranco district. 

[PREMIERE] Lukrø & Orieta Chrem - Tú y Yo (Love In The Endz & Matraca)

DJ LOUI FROM JUPITER4 - they don't found it, they stole it (taken from 'Amplificado', out on the 20th of June via @jupiter4records)

In the past few years, Buenos Aires-born DJ LOUI has been (not so) quietly turning into one of the most exciting tastemakers in the European underground club music circuit, be it as a curator of breathtaking Meta Rave line ups or when releasing music through his label Jupiter4. On top of that he's also an in-demand DJ and producer and the newest testament to his music-making skills comes in the form of 'Amplificado', an album whose stylistic range might be best represented by 'they don't found it, they stole it' track - a club-ready song with heavy bass and gqom influences. 

[PREMIERE] DJ LOUI FROM JUPITER4 - they don't found it, they stole it (Jupiter4)

@wrack90 - Zui (taken from 'Beni', out on the 18th of July via @overmybodytw)

WRACK is a Japanese producer whose characteristic mixture of global club music (especially dancehall and reggaeton) with melodies rooted in traditional Japanese scales allowed him to release music via leading Latin American labels like NAAFI and Hiedrah Club de Baile. Now, however, he comes back to OverMyBody, a label closer to his homeland whose adventurous catalogue seems like a perfect place for WRACK's ambitious sound. 

[PREMIERE] WRACK - Zui (OverMyBody)

@maque_pr - Nalgadura (@brendainternational Remix) (taken from 'baba EP (Remixes)' out on the 27th of June via @lustpoderosa)

Maque is a Bolivian multidisciplinary artist who debuted earlier this year with a sultry EP titled 'baba' that reimagined reggaeton into distorted and deconstructed territories. Now, fresh off her Latin American tour and the EP release party in Berlin just last weekend, she gets ready to drop a packed remix release that features a diverse and exciting line up of producers, including some of the finest club music artists from across South America like Genosidra, RATTLESNAKKE, DJ LOUI FROM JUPITER4 or Brenda.

[PREMIERE] Maque - Nalgadura (Brenda Remix) (Lustpoderosa)

Poland-based platform promoting contemporary electronic music from Latin America and Africa since 2015. Radio show, netlabel, events and more.

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